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SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- K-pop supergroup BTS met Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at her official invitation ahead of the group's Mexico City concerts, the group's agency BigHit Music said Thursday.
The seven-member group conversed for about 40 minutes with the Mexican president at her office in Mexico City, according to the agency.
BTS later appeared alongside Sheinbaum on a balcony of the National Palace, greeting crowds gathered in the capital's central Zocalo square, which was packed with fans, known as ARMY, and local residents.
Members of K-pop supergroup BTS react as they stand on a balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City on May 6, 2026, ahead of its concerts in Mexico City in this AFP photo. (Yonhap)
Fans held signs reading "BTS is always in the heart of Mexico" and "Welcome to Mexico," while some were seen in tears after catching a glimpse of the group.
Earlier in the day, Sheinbaum told a regular press briefing that the South Korean group would visit the presidential office and greet the public from one of the palace's balconies.
She praised BTS' music, saying it consistently delivers messages of "friendship, peace and love."
The seven-member group is set to perform at Estadio GNP Seguros, a multipurpose stadium in Mexico City on May 7 and May 9-10 as part of its ongoing "Arirang" world tour. All three shows sold out rapidly after tickets went on sale.
Fans of K-pop supergroup BTS gather outside the National Palace in Mexico City on May 6, 2026, waiting for the band to appear on a balcony of the National Palace in this Reuters photo. (Yonhap)
Sheinbaum had earlier described the concerts as a "historic moment" when their schedules were fixed in January, noting strong anticipation among young fans in Mexico.
The concerts are also expected to provide a significant economic boost. The Mexico City Chamber of Commerce has estimated an economic impact of around US$107.5 million.
Mexico ranks as the world's fifth-largest market for K-pop, with BTS the most-streamed act among local K-pop fans, according to Spotify's 2025 figures.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (3rd from L) and K-pop supergroup BTS react as they stand on a balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City on May 6, 2026, ahead of the group's concerts in Mexico City in this Reuters photo. (Yonhap)
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